Overview

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) is designed to enable health professionals to specialise in specific areas of practice at a postgraduate level, studying on a part-time basis. The Certificate may lead into the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc) or Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc) degree.

Information for applicants

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Radiation Therapy Advanced Practice is delivered at an advanced level for Radiation Therapy and health professional graduates with experience in the relevant field of healthcare.

The Certificate is a one year part-time distance taught programme consisting of two 30-point papers. Students can complete any two of the three papers (RADT401, RADT402 or RADT403), in any order, to gain the endorsement in Radiation Therapy Advanced Practice.

For RADT 401 and RADT 402, applicants are recommended to have had two years graduate clinical experience.

RADT 401 Applied Radiation Therapy Advanced Practice(first semester)
The aim of RADT 401 is for students to develop knowledge and skills in the areas of scientific basis for treatment, history taking and clinical assessment, evidence based regimes which include imaging technologies, planning techniques, treatment options; toxicities and symptom management for breast, prostate, cervix/endometrial and colo-rectal sites and to integrate this knowledge with reflection on clinical practice.

RADT 402 Patient Centred Radiation Therapy Advanced Practice (second semester)
The aim of RADT 402 is for students to develop knowledge and skills in the areas of psycho-social issues, clinical reasoning, evidence-based regimes which include imaging technologies, planning techniques, treatment options; toxicities and symptom management of the head & neck, thorax and central nervous system sites and integrate this knowledge with reflection on clinical practice.

RADT 403 Brachytherapy Principles and Practice (second semester)
The aim of RADT 403 is for students to increase knowledge and understanding of brachytherapy and its historical context, whilst introducing practical aspects of clinical brachytherapy treatment.

RADT 401 and RADT 402 include a two day residential workshop. Distance options may be available for international students. Applicants can take either a technical or patient focus, providing opportunity to explore areas of interest.

Regulations for the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc)

1. Admission to the Programme

(a) Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences).

(b) Every applicant shall

(i) be a graduate or possess an appropriate health professional qualification requiring at least three years' full-time tertiary study;

(ii) have experience of or be currently working in the relevant field of health care;

Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc)

Overview

The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc) is a postgraduate diploma comprising papers to the value of 120 points (usually four 30 point papers). The Diploma is an option for Radiation Therapy and health professional graduates with experience in the relevant field of healthcare.

The Diploma may lead into the Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc) degree.

Information for Applicants

Applicants must be graduates or possess an appropriate health professional qualification requiring at least three years' full-time tertiary study.

A candidate who has completed the requirements for the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) shall be exempted from those papers in the programme for the Diploma which have been previously passed for the Certificate.

The Diploma may consist of any approved Health Science paper. Radiation Therapists may like to consider the following combination of papers to make up the Diploma:

HASC 417 Health Sciences Research Methods (full year)
HASC 417 includes three residentials held on campus at the University of Otago, Wellington.
HASC 417 fulfills the 30 points research methods requirement for entry to the Master of Health Sciences degree at Otago.

Or Special Topic (15 or 30 points) can be included in the combination of papers. Special Topic ideas include:

New technique

New protocol

Literature review

Toxicity management

Mentoring / Peer supervision

Supportive care

Patient education

Interprofessional Practice

Palliative care

Paediatric and Adolescent / Young Adult (AYA) care

Working with diversity – ethnicity, culture, gender, disability.

Alternatively, with prior approval, up to two 400-level papers in a relevant or related subject offered by another university or tertiary institution may be credited to the Diploma.

Regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc)

Bachelor of Radiation Therapy with Honours (BRT(Hons))

Overview

A Bachelor of Radiation Therapy with Honours (BRT(Hons)) programme is available to Radiation Therapy students who have completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Radiation Therapy (BRT) degree.

Information for applicants

The Bachelor of Radiation Therapy with Honours (BRT(Hons)) is a one year full-time, or two year part-time, post graduate research degree worth 120 points. The honours degree consists of a 30 point research methods paper (HASC 417) and a 90 point thesis, based on original research (RADT 4H).

HASC 417 is delivered over a full year by distance and introduces the student to a variety of health science research methodologies.

RADT 4H is the original research component of the degree and can be done full-time in one year or part-time over two years. Honours research projects are supervised by an academic supervisor and a clinical supervisor.

Prerequisites

Students will have successfully completed the Bachelor of Radiation Therapy (BRT) (previously the Bachelor of Health Sciences (endorsed in Medical Radiation Therapy) normally with a B+ average for graded papers. For those with alternate or overseas qualifications, these may be considered on a case by case basis.

Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Radiation Therapy with Honours (BRT(Hons))

1. Admission to the Programme

(a) Admission to the programme shall be determined by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) on the advice of the Radiation Therapy Board of Studies and Examinations which must be satisfied that the applicant has the ability and experience to proceed.

(b) Every applicant must have completed the requirements of the degree of Bachelor Radiation Therapy, or an equivalent qualification, and be eligible for registration as a Medical Radiation Technologist.

(c) Candidates must have passed all third year papers for the qualifying degree at a satisfactory level (normally with a B+ average for graded papers).

(d) Candidates will enter into the Honours programme normally within two years of qualifying, but others will be considered by the Radiation Therapy Board of Studies and Examinations on a case-by-case basis.

(e) Entry for diagnostic Medical Radiation Technologists may be considered by the Radiation Therapy Board of Studies and Examinations on a case-by-case basis.

(f) Entry for overseas Medical Radiation Technologists may be considered by the Radiation Therapy Board of Studies and Examinations on a case-by-case basis.

2. Structure of the Programme

(a) The programme shall consist of a research methods paper or papers to the value of 30 points (normally HASC417 and for part-time students normally taken in their first year) and the preparation and submission of a satisfactory thesis embodying the results of a supervised investigation to the value of 90 points.

(b) The topic of the research thesis will be approved by the Radiation Therapy Board of Studies and Examinations.

(c) Two supervisors will be appointed by the Radiation Therapy Board of Studies and Examinations on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of Radiation Therapy, one of whom may be external to the University.

(d) The programme will be delivered by distance learning (except for any block courses that may be part of the research methods paper), with regular supervision meetings; these meetings may be face-to-face or held via tele- or video-conference.

(e) No candidate may enrol in any paper additional to the programme without the approval of the Radiation Therapy Board of Studies and Examinations.

3. Duration of the Programme

(a) A full-time candidate shall normally complete the requirements for the degree within one academic year of commencing the programme.

(b) A part-time candidate shall normally complete the requirements for the degree within two academic years of commencing the programme.

4. Examination

(a) At least two examiners for the thesis will be appointed by the Radiation Therapy Board of Studies and Examinations, at least one of whom shall be external to the University.

(b) The candidate's supervisors shall not be examiners, but they may make a report on the work of the candidate for the examiners to consider.

5. Standard of Award of the Degree

The degree may be achieved with First Class Honours, with Second Class Honours (Division I), with Second Class Honours (Division II) or with Third Class Honours.

6. Variations

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) may in exceptional circumstances approve admission criteria or courses of study, acceptable to the Radiation Therapy Board of Studies and Examinations, which do not comply with the degree regulations.

Contact details

Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc)

The Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc) degree allows study at a postgraduate level across a range of health disciplines, and research experience (thesis, dissertation or project) in the student's area of specialisation.

The Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc) comprises 240 points. The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc) or the Bachelor of Radiation Therapy with Honours (BRT(Hons)) can make up 120 points of the Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc). For the additional 120 points the options may be a thesis worth the entire 120 points, a 60 point dissertation and further papers to the value of 60 points, or 30 point research project and 90 points of further papers.